Charley Hoffman fired five birdies in a five-under-par 67 on Thursday to take the lead by one shot after the wind-whipped first round of the US PGA Tour Texas Open.
Australia’s Aaron Baddeley also had five birdies with one bogey in a four-under 68 at TPC San Antonio.
He was one stroke in front of American Max Homa, who closed with back-to-back birdies to grab sole possession of third place on a three-under-par 69.
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson was tied for fourth with 70, despite an equipment malfunction that saw the head of his eight-iron break off on a shot from a fairway bunker.
He was joined at two-under by fellow American Ryan Palmer, whose round included an eagle and a double-bogey.
Only 12 golfers broke par, as the gusty winds pushed scores up.
“It was really challenging, really difficult,” said American Matt Kuchar, who was happy to get off the course after an even-par 72 — more than six strokes better than the morning scoring average of 78.61.
US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany had two triple bogeys in an 82, while defending champion Steven Bowditch of Australia opened with an 80.
Hoffman’s bogey-free effort looked even more impressive under the circumstances, although he did benefit from playing later in calmer winds.
He hit eight of 14 fairways in regulation and needed just 24 putts.
Baddeley’s round included an unlikely birdie at the par-four 17th, where he hit his tee shot into the woods, took an unplayable lie and went back to the tee.
His second effort went straight, and as he started walking he heard the gallery roar — his third shot had gone in for a birdie three from 336 yards.
“I just thought I’d just hit it straight and so I hit it and started walking and then heard the crowd going nuts,” he said. “It was like, ‘wait, I just made birdie.’”
Baddeley also played in the afternoon, but he had prepared himself for difficult conditions.
“I knew it was going to be blowing,” he said. “Even going to bed last night I already had the mindset, I just had to be patient.”
Mickelson birdied three of his final five holes, but the most attention-grabbing moment of his round came at the par-four 12th, where the head of his eight-iron came off as he hit out of a fairway bunker, leaving him holding the shaft.
“It was just a weird thing,” Mickelson said. ‘I’m just curious at what point on the downswing it came off, if it was right before impact or right at impact, because the shot didn’t come off very well.”
With the Masters just a fortnight away, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell opted to play it safe and withdrew after nine holes because of a nagging ankle injury.
Two-time PGA Tour winner Bae Sang-moon of South Korea also withdrew, with a back injury, while American Colt Knost pulled out with a wrist injury.
Trophee Hassan II
AFP, AGADIR, Morocco
France’s Adrian Saddier headed the field by one shot after Thursday’s opening round of the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II.
On only his second European Tour start, Saddier chipped in for an eagle on Golf du Palais Royal’s first hole, then added five birdies in a flawless seven-under-par 65.
It left him one clear of England’s Daniel Gaunt, who had a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th before bogeying the last in a 66.
South African George Coetzee, one of a number of players in the field needing a big week to qualify for next month’s Masters Tournament, Scotland’s David Drysdale and England’s Chris Wood all lie two off the pace on five-under.
“I’m very happy — I was very grateful to get an invite to play here,” Saddier said. “This place is just unbelievable. I played very solid today — I had a chip in for eagle on the first then another chip in on six, so it was a great start and I kept it going.”
“I just have a little category on the European Tour so I will be focused on The Challenge Tour this year,” he added. “I played last week in Madeira and although the tournament was canceled, I was playing well in the strong wind, so I’m in good shape for this week.”
“It’s almost my best round; I shot 64 in Qatar last year, which was eight under, so this is one of my best rounds,” he said. “If I could get a win, it would change my schedule as at the moment I’m playing on the Challenge Tour — I just need to focus on each shot now and see what happens.”
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